GINGKO BILOBA AND ZINC: Anyone take this... - Tinnitus UK

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GINGKO BILOBA AND ZINC

sun_1234 profile image
43 Replies

Anyone take this medicine for T and any improvement??

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sun_1234
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43 Replies
TinnitusUKPat profile image
TinnitusUKPatPartner

Hi Sun_1234

Gingko Biloba is often suggested as a remedy for tinnitus - without there being any evidence that it has an effect on the condition. If you look at the treatments section on our website, you'll see that we advise discussing it with a doctor before taking any complementary supplement: tinnitus.org.uk/tinnitus-an...

One concern we do have is that whilst it doesn't appear to help tinnitus, there is some evidence that for other groups - pregnant women, particularly - that health complications can ensue: drugs.com/mtm/ginkgo-biloba...

sun_1234 profile image
sun_1234 in reply to TinnitusUKPat

Thank you what about and magnesium??

TinnitusUKPat profile image
TinnitusUKPatPartner in reply to sun_1234

Again, no evidence of any effect - tinnitus.org.uk/tinnitus-an....

People with a zinc deficiency are advised to talk to their doctors about ways to augment this. Dietary supplements which claim to be able to cure or supress tinnitus rarely, if ever, provide any evidence for the effects they promise.

sun_1234 profile image
sun_1234 in reply to TinnitusUKPat

Thank you BTAPat

doglover1973 profile image
doglover1973

Hi sun_1234 When my T first got louder I tried GB & Zinc. If anything my T got a bit worse with GB. I think it might increase blood flow which doesn't always help. Zinc had no effect at all. The only supplement that worked was 5HTP for anxiety. Very helpful but it didn't lower the T . Just the distress.

sun_1234 profile image
sun_1234 in reply to doglover1973

Thank you doglover.

bridgeit profile image
bridgeit

I think there are plenty of wild and wacky theories abounding online about supplements that can fix T. Some products are expensive and useless in equal measure, some suggestions can be dangerous as well as ineffective. For example, it's unwise to take gingko biloba if already taking anti-clotting medication and zinc overdose poisoning can be catastrophic for the nervous system. Having had sudden-onset T for several years, I've found no solid evidence anywhere that any supplement or drug can fix T. If there was such a cure, you'd be joining the end of a very, very long and excited queue to purchase it! 😉I've seen some of your earlier posts. A couple of suggestions I can offer based on experience (not medical training) is to first ask medics to rule out the obvious T triggers. These are: Wisdom tooth and TMJ issues (temporomandibular joint - consult a dentist), blood pressure issues (low or high BP) and a check with an ENT specialist to rule out blood flow or other issues around the neck/ear. If you're offered a referral to a T clinic, take it up.

In my experience, amitriptyline makes T worse. Neck manipulation therapy in the form of osteopathy wasn't a good idea for me either, but cranio-sacral therapy is nice and gentle (it's no T fix though!). Many common drugs can aggravate T (ototoxic), but that effect does seem to vary from person to person.

Anxiety makes T worse and in my experience so does neuralgia.

What helps me with T management is: relaxation, meditation, a good balanced diet, plenty of water to drink, light exercise, plenty of good sleep (still an aim really) and deep breathing exercises. It's not easy and sometimes the T is really intrusive and frustrating.

Habituation is the key and that takes time. Read the posts on this forum to pick up on others' experiences, hints and tips; study the BTA website for solid advice and most important - be patient with yourself.

I think it unwise to swallow any substance thinking that it will fix T; the overwhelming evidence is that it won't.

Beagleears profile image
Beagleears in reply to bridgeit

Sound advice I too prefer to use meditation and relaxation techniques its hard to relax at first but my 20 minutes every morning really helps me get a good start to the day. Keeping hydrated is a good thing to do I can be a bit remiss in that as I like my tea too much! I try to drink 2 pints of water a day but don't always manage it take care.

Glenkerry40 profile image
Glenkerry40 in reply to Beagleears

Hi I have tried to get into meditation but never stuck with it mainly because I can’t be bothered or just plain lazy so I just plod along .

KimboNJ profile image
KimboNJ in reply to Glenkerry40

Hi Glen, I was the same. What I now do is play meditation music when I go to bed and if I feel like doing a guided one then I will but I mostly only play music with or without binaural beats and now I haven’t missed a day in 5 years and the music is amazing

RONf profile image
RONf in reply to bridgeit

Great advice. 100% correct bridgeit. Take care :-)

rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65 in reply to bridgeit

bridgeit I have always found your posts interesting and a lovely read with excellent truth

bridgeit profile image
bridgeit in reply to rabbits65

Thank you Rabbits. I too have picked up a lot of useful hints and tips from many others with solid experience on various threads from Healthunlocked.

I think Healthunlocked is a rare find in the world of social media; a safe place where people genuinely support each other and willingly reach out with kindness rather than cruelty.

rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65 in reply to bridgeit

I thoroughly agree with you . This is a wonderful site . People are so kind and if T can bring about such love amongst all of us then perhaps T has some benefits after all !!!

MOLKO1972 profile image
MOLKO1972 in reply to rabbits65

I love this reply ❤️

KimboNJ profile image
KimboNJ in reply to bridgeit

Amen to that!! I am from the US and I absolutely cherish this forum and the people on it. I guess what I’m trying to say is…. You guys/gals rock 😊. This is actually the first time I’ve ever posted. Thank you for being the shining lights that you all are

doglover1973 profile image
doglover1973 in reply to bridgeit

Great post bridgeit 👍

sun_1234 profile image
sun_1234

Thank you bridgeit.

Hi

I take zinc, vit C, vit D, B12 and liquid iron. I've cut out takeaways completely as I found them very salty and wanted to cut down on salt. Plus they're so expensive and I like my own version now 👍

rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65 in reply to

Your going to rattle Fuzzy ,!!! Just joking !

in reply to rabbits65

😂

rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65 in reply to rabbits65

You talk about vitamin D. , shouldn’t be necessary in the summer as we have loads of sunshine. 🌞 🌞 🌞 on us .

in reply to rabbits65

True I should pause in the summer but Scottish weather is a bit up n down 🌦 xx

doglover1973 profile image
doglover1973 in reply to

I'm coming round for tea Hidden With you in one hour 🥕🥕

in reply to doglover1973

Ha ha 😄 Thai green curry? xx

doglover1973 profile image
doglover1973 in reply to

Oh lush! 😍

msspinner profile image
msspinner

Hi, I learned from a herbalist about gingko leaf tea being good for tinnitus, so I got some. It turns out that if gingko leaves are good for anything, it is lowering blood pressure. However, my blood pressure is in the normal range and I've still got tinnitus.

Graham-E profile image
Graham-E

Hello and yes I’m the beginning I tried Gingko Biloba & zinc and it had no positive effect as so many others have said.It’s chucked about as the wonder cure and well wishing people told me about it.

If anything Gingko Biloba seemed to make it worse.

Hope that helps any.

Keep well

rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65 in reply to Graham-E

I find all these different vitamins gets very complicated. It can be dangerous to overload the body with unnecessary stuff . Vitamin C is apparently the only vitamin you can’t overload on as the body can only store a certain about of C . That being said . I’m also of the opinion that if we eat a balanced diet we shouldn’t need additional nutrients . However because tinnitus is such a desperately distressing condition people are trying absolutely anything at all to try and relieve it a bit. My answer to all this is people need to calm down and relax the whole body and nervous system , walking, exercising, whatever , then the T will calm down naturally .

AldoArgentina profile image
AldoArgentina in reply to rabbits65

Your method is good for stress, not for a neurological disorder. And clearly you've never suffered from T.

TinnitusUKPat profile image
TinnitusUKPatPartner in reply to AldoArgentina

As you don't know what tinnitus issues Rabbits65 deals with AldoArgentina, please keep your comments on topic and don't make assertions like this. It isn't helpful.

MOLKO1972 profile image
MOLKO1972 in reply to AldoArgentina

I think most people with T are either suffering or have suffered.

We all deal with it differently :)

AldoArgentina profile image
AldoArgentina

I’m sorry Sun_1234, science doesn't give us much help yet. Perhaps these things might help you: 1. You must keep your blood pressure low as you can and is important to control whether you snore. 2. Take Magnesium L. Threonate (Only this Magnesium!!!) 3 hours before bed. Look for information, this magnesium is really good for brains. 3. Try taking Idebenone 4. Do you know Mimicking fasting diet of Walter Longo? In Argentina there aren't doctors to guide us with this diet, perhaps you can find one. 5. And finally homeopathy might help you too. I’m doing all of these and my T is going down little by little. I wish you much luck!!

rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65 in reply to AldoArgentina

An only be a bit of “ Mind over matter “

mmmgggsss profile image
mmmgggsss

I take Lipo Flavonoid and really do feel it has helped me. You can read about it on Amazon, it has great reviews and is mostly a combo of vitamins in the B family with some other ingredients. Vitamin B is good for your nerves. They make a day time version and a blue night time version which also contains melatonin and helps you sleep. My Tinnitus has decreased by about 75% in the last year and this is the only real change I made. At first you take a lot of it and then after like 30 days you take a Maintenace does.

My belief is that Tinnitus is NOT a blood-flow issue ( for 99% of us ) it is a neurological issue involving tiny nerves which ( in basic terms ) connect the ear and the brain. I have had every blood flow test in the books and its all perfect, as have most of us. These nerves within the ear can get damaged, or just age over time and they then simply send bad signals to the brain, mis-interpret information and pick-up sounds the brain would otherwise filter out. This is also why we all have different experience with this in-terms of what we hear - because our brains are different and it is therefore subjective. If it was blood-flow we would all hear basically the same type of sound and it would always be there, that wouldn't be variable. So anything to make your ears healthier can't hurt and this is basically just vitamins geared towards ear health. You can read the Amazon reviews. Good luck

Happyrosie profile image
Happyrosie in reply to mmmgggsss

I believe, mmmgggsss, that melatonin is not an approved supplement here in the UK and so not available on Amazon. But I could be wrong?

292426 profile image
292426 in reply to mmmgggsss

Hi

But how do we find out if it’s a blood flow problem to dismiss it?

I developed a hum two months ago which is constant.

I find anything to do with blood, vessels etc scary and would love to know it’s not that.

🌸

bantams profile image
bantams

Hi sun_1234I tried taking Gingko Biloba tablets about a year ago amongst other things, as I was not coping very well with Tinnitus, these tablets did not make any differance to my Tinnitus the same as the other things I tried.

sun_1234 profile image
sun_1234 in reply to bantams

thank you bantams. did yoi try magnesium???

bantams profile image
bantams

Hi, No I have not tried it, I have mostly good days with Tinnitus now as I have mainly " learnt to live with it" It took nearly 2 years for me to reach this point, but if I can do it it`s possible for anyone, Good Luck.

sun_1234 profile image
sun_1234 in reply to bantams

Thank you . what did you do bantam please ? did you take any medicine for this?

bantams profile image
bantams in reply to sun_1234

Hi, No medication just try to live a normal life and try tp put Tinnitus to the back of your mind so you are not thinking about, not easy. Also I started to attend my local Tinnitus Support group in Brighouse. It is run by Sally Jackson (free) a local audiologist who as Tinnitus and it as been really helpful taking to other poeple and how they live with Tinnitus

sun_1234 profile image
sun_1234 in reply to bantams

thank you bantams